Leaf-stripping machine



May 22, 1928.

W. B. STORY LEAF STRIPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v minessg s: (SM-M May 22, 1928.

W. B. STORY LEAF STRIPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 22, 1928.

UNlTEDSTATE-S 1,. e-7a4s4 PATENT QFFICE.

WARD B. STORY, 01* BnookLYN, New YORK.

mar-summer momma.

Aspiration med aanusrye s, 1920. -Seria1 in. 353,761.

The invention =re'lates to mechanism wherein the stems or midribs may be removed from the leaves of to'lia'eco as the initial step in the manufacture, a ftercnring, of smoking and chewing tobacco and snuff.

The objects of the invention are to provide apparatus for removing the stem from 1 a leaf by a direct pull on the-stemyi n which the stem will be engaged, by the removing means, in close proximity tothe lamin in which the lan'rina will not be grasped to "prevent movement thereof, with stein; wherein the lamina will not be inj nred; in which the lamina will be entirely removed from the stem; which will besimple in construction; economical of operation; which will not become clogged; which is capable of easy repair and which may be aperated by unskilled labor.

These and further objects will more fully appear in the following specification and accompanying drawings, considered together or separately.

One embodiment of the invention is i l lustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like parts in all of the several are designated by similar characters of "re ference, and in which:

Fig. l is an end'e levation ofthe preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail top plan view of a ipo'r the operation of the carriages.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation'ofthedevice.

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of a. cam bracket,

Fig. 7 is a developed plan view, on an enlarged scale, of a gripper fcarriage.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the gripper carriage.

Fig. 9 is a detail View of a modification.

liigure 10 is a detailed view of a mod'i'fica tion illustrating additional means which may be employed for holding the leaves during the stem stripping operation. Figure 11 is a diagra'm'maticview showing one means of providing a "continuous feeding of leaves to the stripper.

In the embodiment 'of the invention i-llustrated, a pair of Ashaped pedestals 1 is employed. The upper end of each pedestal is provided with a bearing 2 in which is Journa-led a powe'r shaft 3 to which power maybe applied. The pedestals are provided with upwardly projecting arms 4 carrying tie rods 5, and with laterally extending arms 6 carrying tie rods 7. The pedestals and tie rods form a strong, rigid and flight framework within which all of the operat- --ing parts of the device are carried.

Rigidly mounted on the shaft 3 within the frame and rotatable with the shaft is a drum 8. The drum may be conveniently made up of two fiat face, stock pulleys, and mounted on one of the tie rods 5 'is a feeding table 9.

somewhat wider than the length of the drum, and one edge thereof carries a butterboard 10 against which the butt ends of the stems contact whenthe operator places the leaves to be stemmed on the table, whereby when the leaves are forced off the table onto the surface 'of thedrum the ends of the stems will project beyond the end of the d-ri'un. The bdtterbOardextends art way around the periphery of the drum and will prevent the stems from extending beyond the limit set by the butterboard.

Rigidly carried on the shaft 3 and at one end of the drum 8 is a frame comprising circular end members 11 connected by a plurality of rods 12 each the same radiald-istance from the shaft 3 and forming a squirrel cage construction. One eftheinembers 11 adjoins and forms an extension of the drum 8 and carries on one "end thereof a circular series of radially projecting teeth 13. The teeth are preferably triangular.

and with the bottoms of the spacesrounded.

The teeth may be formed in any desiredma'nner, but preferably the teeth are formed in segmental plates which are bolted or otherwise secured to the member 11.

Carried on the tie rods 5, -5 and extending from one 'to the -other, and across the squirrel cage are two arch elements 14 and '15 suitably spaced apart forming "between them a 'g'uideway 16. Theguideway has a section thereof parallel to the end members 11. The arch elements are positioned in proximity to the drum 8, and the extreinities of the gtiideway are directed in the direction away from the drum.

Sectfred to each end of the arch elements is a pair of bars 17, 17 which are bentar'ound the squirrel cage in opposite direction and spaced apart to form continuations of the guideway 16. Each pair of bars 17 forms a spiral around approximately one half of the squirrel cage and from near one end member 11 to near the opposite end member. The bars 17 are secured at the ends opposite the arch members to a fitting 18 secured to one of the pedestals 1. The fitting is provided with a pair of spaced flanges 19, 19 in alinement with the bars 17 and with a guide flange 20. The bars 17 are further supported on the tie rods 7.

The bars 17 and flanges 19 are spaced apart a distance equal to the width of the guideway 16 and together therewith form an endless or return track around the squirrel cage and from one end of the same to the other.

Formed on the arch element 15 on the side farthest removed from the drum is a cam 21 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The cam is positioned to one side of the axial line of the squirrel cage as shown in Fig. 2, and below the plane of the guideway 16 at that point.

Secured to the arch element 1-1 in proximity to the butterboard 10 is a filamentous member 22 preferably of hardened wire. The wire 22 is extended around a portion of the periphery of the drum 8 and its opposite end is secured to a stationary part of the frame. As shown in Fig. 1 the wire is anchored to a fitting by means secured to one of the tie rods 7. A spring 23 is interposed between the end of the wire and the anchor whereby the wire will resiliently engage the surface of the drum. The wire is positioned in proximity to the teeth 13. The wire may be of any desired cross section.

Slidably mounted on each of the bars 12 of the squirrel cage is a carriage 24 comprising a cylindrical body having at one end a pair of oppositely disposed, laterally projecting wings 25. The carriage is also provided with a radially projecting lug 26 on which is rotatably mounted a roller 27. The rollers of all of the carriages are adapted to lie in the track formed by the elements 14 and 15, the bars 17, 17 and the flanges 19, 19 of the fitting 18 whereby when the shaft 3 is rotated in the clockwise direction, each carriage will be moved back and forth along its supporting bar, once for each revolution of the shaft.

Each wing 25 is provided with a counter bored socket 28, the axial line of which radial to the axial line of the shaft 3, and movably arranged in each socket is a spring pressed plunger 29. The plunger carries a stem 30 which passes through the smaller bore of the socket and is provided with lock nuts to limit the movement of the plunger under the influence of its spring.

The outer end of the plunger carries a cross-head 31 the upper surface of which is preferably inclined downwardly in the direction away from the drum 8. The upper surface of the cross head is at right angles to the axial line of the plunger.

Cooperating with the crosshcad of each plunger is a jaw member 32 supported on the carriage 24. The lower surface of the jaw member 32 is preferably of approximately the same area as that of its cooperating crosshead and the face of the member 32 is preferably provided with a resilient cushion The jaw member is carried by one arm of a bell crank lever pivoted at 3-1- on the carriage, the other arm of which is connected by a link 35 with one arm 36 of a bell crank pivoted at 37 to the carriage 24. The other arm 38 of said bell crank carries a spherical roller 39 which is adapted to be engaged by the cam 21 on the arch element 15 and by the guide flange 20. The engagement of the roller 39 with the guide flange 20 will raise the jaw member 32 from the crosshead 21, and when the said roller engages the cam 21 the jaw member will be thrown down 011 its cooperating crosshcad. The arm 38 is attached to a stationary part of the carriage by a spring 40, and said spring will retain the bellcrank 37-3S in either of its positions as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

The connection between the pivots 2H and 37 is in the form of a toggle whereby when the jaw member 32 is in its lowered position the center of the pivotal connection of the line 35 and the arm 36 will be out of alincment with the center of the pivotal connection between the link and the bellcrank carrying the jaw member and the pivot 37 and the jaw member will be locked against accidental displacement.

Carried by the heads 11 and extending longitudinally of the squirrel cage and in proximity to each rod 12 is a guide bar 41, and each carriage is provided with a pair of radially extending wings which engage one on each side of a bar 41. The wings have a working engagement and permit the carriage to move longitudinally of the rod 12 and bar but will prevent rotary movement of the carriage on each rod.

The operation is as follows The leaves after being properly prepared for the steaming process are placed upon the table 9 and )ower is applied to the shaft 3 to rotate the drum 8 and the squirrel cage. The rotation of the latter relatively to the spiral guides will, by the engagement: of the rollers 27 between the guides. cause the carriages 24 to travel back and forth along their supporting bars 12.

The leaves are ar'anged by the operator at the drum end of the machine with the stems projecting toward arch 14 and are moved down the table with the ends of the lilo IISU

stems engaging the *butterboard 10. As the leaves are moved along the table by the operator preferably in asin gle layer, they, the leaves will be deposited on the surface of the drum with the projecting stems resting in the notches between the teeth 13 which will insure the leaves being carried along with the drum surface. As the drums rotate the stems will pass beneath the wire 22 whereby each stem will be enclosed in a notch between two teeth 13.

As the carriages 24 successively approach the gap between the arches let and 15 the jaw members are raised as shown at A in Figs. .7 and '8, and the carriages will be traveling at thesame speed as the surface of the drum, The 'crossheads 31 will be in alinemen't with the drum surface, and a crosshead will pass under that portion of each stern projecting beyondthe sawteeth 13. The crossheads being in alinement with the drum surface will pick upthe stems as soon as the leaves are moved from the table thereby preventing "the stems from sagging.

While the roller 27 of each "carriage is travelling from thepoint B to the point C, Fig. 4, the carriage will travel in a line parallel to the sawteeth.

\Vhenfthe first spherical roller 39 of the carriage reaches the point C, Fig. 4,'the said roller will engage the cam surface 21 and be moved in the direction away from the drum. This will straighten out the "toggle connection between the said roller and its jaw member, and the latter will be moved downward, as shown at -D Figs. 7 and 8 and.

bring its cushion 23 down into engagement withthesteni or stems which rest "upon the crosshead. The toggle action supplemented by the spring 40 will retain the jaw in its lowered position lWi thhft he stems firmly clam ed between the jaw and cross'head;

W en the roller 27 of'the carriagereaches the point C' it will enterthe spiral portionof the track and the continued rotation of the squirrel cage will move the carriage away from the drum and draw the stems with it. The lamina of the leaves are prevented from following the stems by the engagement of the same with the wi're22 and the walls of saw teeth. The resiliency of the wire owing to the spring 23 will cause the wire to press the stems into the "bottoms of the recesses as the diameters of the stems become smaller as they are withdrawn. he bottoms of the notches arepreferably curved, the gap formed by said curved bottoms and the wire will become gradually smaller as the stems passing through them diminish in diameter and the lamina will be cleanly out rather than be torn from the stem.

As the stems are withdrawn by the 'carriages that portion of each leaf resting on the drum will become gradually shorter and be drawn toward the sawteet'h and the tendencyof the leaf will be to hang in apendant position. In this situation the stem may become broken before it is withdrawn from the lamina.

machine, and the stems will be withdraw-11 in straight lines and without kinkingor bending. The lamina and the stem will be traveling at the same speed and in the same direction from "the inlet end of the apparatus at all times because of the fact that the leaf is positively locked to the drum from the moment it engages therewith until the stem is entirely withdrawn and separated from the lamina. When the stems are completely withdrawn from the lamina the latter will fall from the drum into a receptacle pro vided to receive them, and the stems will be retained between the jaws and crossheads 31.

\Vhen the carriage reaches the point E on the underside and at the extreme end of the squirrel cage the roller 39 will engage the guide flange 20 andthe jaw 32 will "be moved to the open position as shown at A Figs. 7 and 8, and the stems will be released; The jaws will remain 'open during the travel of the carriage from the point E to the point C when the engagement of the spherical roller with the cam will close the jaws, and the operation will be repeated.

Instead of the wire 22 for clasping the stems to the drum, an endless belt e 5, shown in Fig.9 may be employed. The belt may be of any desired material and is preferably circular in cross section. The belt engages the surface of the drum between the stems which are held beneath it, and the frictional engagement of the belt, stems and the leaves in position longitudinally of the I drum will cause the belt to travel at the sur all of the belts except that nearest the dc livery'end of the drum will have a light con tact with the drum in order that the lamina will not be torn or otherwise injured by said belts. i

When the belt 43 is employed the sawteeth 13 may be omitted and a series of radially projecting pins 44 substituted. The engagement of the belt with the leaves lit will be suflicient to prevent the withdrawal of the lamina from the drum when the stems are drawn outward by the gripper, and the only oiiice of the pins will be to prevent the belt from being moved longitudinally of the drum by the pull of the grippers on the stems.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 10 a short belt -15 is provided to be used in conjunction with the wire 22. The belt -15 may be a plain rubber iaced belt or its working surface may be covered with carding cloth. This belt is disposed in proximity to the forward end of the wire 22 at the top of the drum 5 and the carding teeth will engage the leaves and retain them on the drum while the carriage 24: is withdrawii ig the stem.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention a rotary member 46 is employed to insure the stems of the leaves entering the spaces between the teeth of the element 13 and beneath the wire The member -lll is in the form of a circular brush carried on a shaftlT -arried above the squirrel cage. The rear end of the shaft 47 carries a wheel l8 adapted to frictionally engage the periphery of the end member ll. The brush 4C and wheel l8 are proportioned relatively to the member 11 that the brush will travel at the surface speed oi the drum 8 and any stems which may be cocked upward will be depressed, and presented in position to be engaged by the gripping members ill and a In order to prevent the projecting ends of the stems from projecting into the spaces between adjacent ends of the grippers, each member 251 carries at its opposite end an outwardly projecting blade ll) and each blade is bent outward at an angle, as shown in Fig. 8. The ends of the blades are beveled whereby when the carriages are at the top of the travel and moving in a straight line transversely of the squirrel cage the beveled ends of the blades will contact and form a guard of the same size and shape as the teeth of the member-13. The stems lying, as they must, between the teeth of 13 will be prevented by the guard formed by the blades 40 from dropping or sagging.

between the gripper members but will be deflected to one side or the other into position to be engaged by the cushion 33 of the pivoted gripper member 32.

It has been found in practice that the speed of the apparatus of the invention is so great, even when running at a comparatively small number of revolutions per minute, that it is impossible for one operator to feed leaves at a rate even approaching the capacity of the apparatus.

In Fig. 11 is illustrated an embodiment of the invention in which several feeders may be employed. Instead of the stationary feed table 9 a movable table is employed. This table may take the form of an endless belt 50 passing around the drum 8 and around a pulley or roller 51 situated at a considerable distance from the drum. placed beneath the upper side of the belt to provide firmness. The operators may be placed at intervals along the belt and each will place his supply 01' leaves on the moving belt as rapidly as possible. There will necessarily be a considerable space between each two leaves as positioned by the operator stationed at the point most distant from the drum, and the spaces will be filled with leaves by those operators stationed between the first operator and the drum.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principle of the invention has been described, together with what is now considered to be the best embodiment thereof, but it is to be understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways.

Having now described the invention what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows 1. An apparatus of the class described, comprising leaf supporting means, means for engaging the stem of the leaf, means for moving the supporting and engaging means together at the same speed, and means for moving the engaging means relatively to the supporting means without interrupting the first mentioned movement.

2. An apparatus of the class described, comprising leaf supporting means, means for engaging the stem of the leaf, means for moving the supporting and engaging means together, and means for moving the engaging means relatively to the su )porting means in a dillerent direction without interrupting the aforementioned movement.

3. An apparatus of the class described,

comprising a body for supporting a leaf, means for rotating the body, a device for gripping the stem of the leaf, means for rotating the device with the body. means for moving the device relatively to the body to withdraw the stem from the body, and

means cooperating with the body for rcsisting the withdrawal of the lamina oi the leaf.

4. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a body for supporting a leaf, means for rotating the body, a device for gripping the stem of the leaf, means for rotating the device with the body, means for moving the device relatively to the body to withdraw the stem from the body, without interrupting the first mentioned movement of the body and the device. and means cooperating with the body lor resisting the withdrawal of the lamina of the leaf.

5. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a drum, a member secured to the drum, means for rotating the A. board 52 may be member and drum as aunit, a device carried by the member and movable toward and away from; the drum, means cooperatwhereby when the device is; moved: away i scribed, comprising a drum, a member sefrom the drum.

6. An apparatus from the drum the stem will be withdrawn of the; character decured to the drum, means for rotating the member and'drum: as aunit, a plurality] of devices carried by the member and movable; toward and away from the drum, means cooperating with the surface of the drum forretainin a series of leaves thereon, a clamp carried by each device for grasping the stem of a leaf whereby when thedevice is moved away from the drum'the stem will bewithdrawn from the drum.

7. An? apparatus of the character described, comprisinga drum, a member secured to the drum, means for rotating the member and drum as a unit, a: device carried by the member,.a cam for moving; the device toward and away from the drum, means cooperatingzwith the; surface of the drum for retaining a leafethereon, a clamp, carriedby the device forgrasping thelsteln of a leaf: whereby when the device is moved away: from the drum the stem will be withdrawn. from the drum. .1 V

8; An apparatus of the character described, comprising a drum, a member se-' cured to the drum, means; forrotating the member and drum as a unit, a: device car-v.

ried by the member, a spiral cam for-movi-ng the device toward and away fromi thedrum, means cooperating with the surface of the.

drum for retaining a, leaf thereon, a clamp, carried by the. device for grasping the" stem of a leaf wherebywhan thedevice is moved away from the drum the stem will be withdrawn from the drum. r V a 9. An apparatus; of the de scribed, comprisinga drum, a member se-r,

cured to: the drum, means; for rotating the member and drum as a unit, a device. carried by the member,

the device toward awayf;1;om the drum,

said means being-"mQvahh relatively: to the,

cam, means cooperating with the surfaceof the drum for retaininga leafthereon, a:

clamp carried by the device. for -grasping:

the stem of a leaf whereby when the device" is moved away from the drum the stem will be withdrawn from the drum.

10. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a drum revolving about a horizontal axis, an elongated element embracing the drum, a plurality of carriages revolvin with the drum,a cam engaged by the carriages whereby the latter are succes a spiral. cam for mov ng Bi l shaft, a. carriage 'slidably carried on each bar of the frame, therebeing a surface of each carriage arranged tangentially to the, surface of the drum, aclamp element pivoted. to the carriage and; adapted to cooperate with. the surface, there being a, spiral track with which the. carriages cooperate whereby the carniages may be successively, moved toward and away fromthe drum, a cam, adapted: to coopenate with, the clamp element to engage the same with the. surface when the; carriage is in proximity to. the

1 drum, and a cam for releasing the clamp element from the surface when the carriage is moved away from the; drum.

12. An apparatus of he class described,

comprising a drum secured to. a horizontal shaft, a squirrel. cage frame secured to the shaft, a carriageslidably carried on. each bar of the frame, a crosshead carried by each carriage and; arranged tangentially to the surface of the drum, a clamp. element pivoted to the carriage and adapted tocooperate with the crosshead, there being: a spiral track with which. the carriages cooperate whereby thecarriages maybe successively moved toward and away from the drum, a cam adapted to cooperate with. the clamp element to engage the same with the crosshead when the carriage is in proximity to the drum, and a cam for-releasing theclamp element from the crosshead when the carriage is moved away from the drum.

' 13. An apparatus of the class described, comprising: a; drum secured to a horizontal shaft, a squirrel cage frame secured to the shaft, a carriage slidably carried on each bar of the frame, a plurality pfcrossheads,

carried by ea'chcarriage, the surface of each crossheacl being arranged tangentially of the surface of the drum, there being a spring cushion for each crosshead", a pivoted 'clamp member carried by the carriage and adapted to cooperate with a crosshead, a resilient cushion, carried by the clamp member, abellcrank lever pivoted to the carriage, a toggle connection between the bellcrank and the clamp'meinber, there be; ing a spiral track encircling the frame, each carriage enaging the track, whereby as the frame is revolved the carriages will be moved toward and away from the drum, a roller carried by the bell crank, a cam for enga ing the roller to engage the clamp mem er with the crosshead when the carriage is proximity to the drum, and a An apparatus of the class described,-

cam for engaging the roller to release the clamp member from the crosshead when the carriage is moved away from the drum.

14. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a drum,:means for rotating the drum, a member adapted to roiate with the drum, a plurality of circularly arranged devices carried on the member and capable of individual movement toward and away from the drum in the axial direction, means for continuously feeding leaves to the drum, means for retaining the leaves on the surface of the drum with the stems of the leaves projecting over a portion of the path of the devices, guides carried by the devices for directing the stems to the surface of the devices, a clamp carried by each device for clamping a stem to the device whereby when the device is moved away from the drum the stem will be withdrawn from the drum.

15.An apparatus of the character described, comprising a drum, means for rotating the drum, a member adapted to rotate with the drum, a plurality of circularly arranged devices carried on the member and capable of individual movement toward and away from the drum in the axial direction, a belt for continuousl feeding leaves to the drum, means for retalning the leaves on the surface of the drum with the stems of the leaves projecting over a portion of the path of the devices, guides carried by the devices for directing the stems to the surface of the devices,a clamp carried by each device for clamping a stem to the device whereby when the device is moved away from the drum the stem will be withdrawn from the drum.

16. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a drum, means for rotating the drum, :1 member. adapted to rotate with the drum, a plurality of circularly arranged devices carried on the member and capable of'individnal movement toward and away from the drum in the axial direction, means for continuously feeding leaves to the drum, means for retaining the leaves on the surface of the drum with the stems of the leaves projecting over a portion of the path of the devices, a rotary element engaging the stems to position them relatively to the devices, guides carried by the devices for directing the stems to the surface of the devices, a clamp carried by each device for clamping a stem to the device whereby when the device is moved away from the drum the stem will be withdrawn from the drum. n a

17. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a drum, means for rotating the drum, a member adapted to rotate with the drum, a plurality of circularly arranged devices carried on the member and capable of individual movement toward and away from the drum in the axial direction, means for continuously feeding leaves to the drum, means for retaining the leaves on the surface of the drum with the stems of the leaves projecting over a portion of the path of the devices, a rotary brush engaging the stems to position them relatively to the devices, guides carried by the devices for directing the stems to the surface of the devices, aclamp carried by each dex'ice for clamping a stem tothe device whereby when the device is moved away from the drum the stem will be withdrawn from the drum. 18. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a drum, means for rotating the drum, a member adapted to rotate with the drum, a plurality of circularly arranged devices carried on the memb and capable of individual movement toward and away from the drum'in the axial direction, means for continuously feeding leaves to the drum, means for retaining the leaves on the surface of the drum with the stems of the leaves projecting over a portion of the path of the devices, a rotary brush engaging the stems to position them relatively to the devices, means for rotating the brush at the surface speed of the drum, guides carried by the devices for directing the stems to the surface of thedevices, a clamp carried:

by each device for clamping a stem to the device whereby when the device is moved away from the drum the stern will be withdrawn from the drum.

19. An apparatus of the character described comprising a movable leaf supporting member, a stem engaging device associated therewith, means for moving the. member and the device at the same angular velocity, and further means for moving the engaging device relative to the support while rotating simultaneously with the latter.

This specification signed and witnessed this 22nd day of January, 1920.

- WARD BWSTORY. 

